The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936, has designated the last Sunday in September as "Gold Star Mother's Day" and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in its observance.
This is stated on the back of the medal given to me due to Alex being killed during combat.
In 1994, President Bill Clinton proclaimed that we should "honor women whose sons and daughters have pledged their lives to securing for all Americans the blessings of liberty. These mothers have made tremendous sacrifices, the most painful being the loss of their children, and deserve the respect and recognition of the nation."
Why do we not honor the fathers and siblings as well? I am but a stepmother, yet due to my gender and not my blood, I am given this honor. I had to request the medals for both my husband and son because they were never considered to be honorable enough.
My husband and stepson Brian continue bereft and much more impacted than the females of my family. As a gender, feelings stew inside of you all causing deep harm either to yourselves or by directing agression outward (i.e. by starting meaningless and purposeless wars).
In 2007, George W. Bush proclaimed "The gift of liberty is secured by heroes who have answered the call to serve when America needed them most. On Gold Star Mother's Day, we honor the mothers of the service men and women who have given their lives in the defense of our great Nation.
President Bush, you goad all Mothers with this supplemental day of honor. This day has been given to us due to having our sons killed during combat. I feel no joy at this recollection. I feel no honor in knowing that this nation thrives on wars to move the wheels of its economy, where young men and women are seduced by honor to spill blood.
The President continues his proclamation stating, "America's Gold Star Mothers are remarkable patriots who serve their communities by demonstrating good citizenship, providing support and services to our troops and veterans, and helping comfort the families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice. Their sense of duty and deep devotion to our country inspire our Nation, and we thank them for their compassion, determination, and strength. Though they carry a great burden of grief, these courageous mothers help ensure that the legacy of our fallen heroes will be forever remembered. On this day, we offer our deep gratitude and respect to our Nation's Gold Star Mothers; we honor the sons and daughters who died while wearing the uniform of the United States; and we pray for God's blessings on them, their mothers, and their families."
For your information, I pray for the day not just for the occupation of Iraq to end, I pray for the day when no more of these pins are ever needed again. I pray for an end to this oddly named and misunderstood club of females: Gold Star Mothers. I hope that these misanthropic Gold Star Mothers soon go into extinction due to an end to war. The grief is not golden. The pain at knowing that another Gold Star Mother comes into being every half day or so is heartbreaking and maddening.
President Bush, I am a Gold Star Stepmother for peace. The DoD gave me the little gold star pin with the purple border too. Yet, those in defense of justice, peace and the constitution are constantly called traitors. Which is it President Bush? Am I a patriot or not? This Catholic Sunday school teacher, this volunteer for the Veteran's Administration, this community activist, and stepmother who believes you have committed impeachable offenses wants to know.
Sincerely, I urge justice and peace for all, Melida Sharon Arredondo Roslindale, MA Gold Star Stepmother to Lcpl. Alexander Scott Arredondo, USMC, 08/04/84 - 08/25/04 Born: Boston, MA KIA: An Najaf, Iraq
And the proclamation for this day by the President:
From the White House: Gold Star Mother's Day, 2007 A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
The photo's are just a couple taken at the 'Arlington South Memorial - Charlotte' yesterday, that was set up by a number of volunteers, on friday, for the 'First International Day of Non - Violence' and will be taken down tonight.
Update: Forgot to add the following:
Anyone interested in displaying the Arlington South crosses,in North Carolina or South Carolina, can email organizers at Statesville Memorial Oroginally Summer Lipford, Gold Star Mom, wanted this Memorial to be able to be displayed in North Carolina or South Carolina by anyone interested. Well after we displayed it the first time, on Memorial Day Weekend in Statesvlle NC it has traveled to a few places, one is:
The mission of Patrick McCaffrey’s Foundation is to promote mental and holistic wellness and palliative care among veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, especially those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), by providing a live-in retreat village, wherein with the help of trained professional staff and volunteers, veterans will find inner healing and an eventual re-entry into society. The Patrick McCaffrey Foundation, named after Sergeant Patrick R. McCaffrey, the first California National Guard, since WWII, (from the 579th Engineer Battalion from Petaluma), to lose his life in Iraq on June 22, 2004, is committed to bringing healing and hospice, as well as career counseling and training, to veterans returning from the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its founding member and President, Nadia McCaffrey, mother of Sergeant Patrick McCaffrey, wants to carry on the work her son would have pursued had his life not been curtailed so prematurely. Patrick, who did not expect to be deployed to Iraq, decided to honor the commitment he made to help people by going to Iraq as a leader and Combat Life Saver, bringing healing and love to his fellow soldiers and the Iraqi children.
The people{?} Who Assaulted a Gold Star Father on September 15th
Lets take a look first at apparently how we All should act if we are 'Patriotic', really 'Support The Troops' { meaning anything a dictator, we hire, says or wants we the citizens MUST not question it's policies, and only send others sons and daughters to carry out those policies of force! } and be 'True Americans'.
Here are photos of members of "Gathering of Eagles" who assaulted gold star father Carlos Arredondo in broad daylight in front of many police officers in Washington, D.C., on September 15, 2007, throwing him to the ground and kicking him.
Carlos Arredondo, 47 year old father of two sons, arrived in the nation's capitol on Monday, 09/10/07 to share a memorial he has made to honor for his eldest son, Alex. Carlos has visited thirty of the United States with the traveling memorial to his son Alexander. Lcpl. Alexander S. Arredondo, USMC was killed on 08/25/04. He was 20 years and 20 days old. The memorial consists of a casket, poster- size photographs of Alex when he graduated from boot camp, before his second tour in Iraq, lying in state at his wake, and a photo of Alex with his younger brother Brian.
Saturday, September 15, 2007 consisted of first a rally, a march towards the capitol and then a die-in. Carlos pulled the memorial along the march route approaching the rotunda near the capitol building. Several of the marchers requested for him to speak about the memorial where a crowd gathered around him. After finishing, several people walked with Carlos as he pulled the memorial. Several pictures of Alex dressed in his blues were attached to the display.
As Carlos passed counter protesters, one man ripped a picture of Alex from the memorial. Carlos leaped on the man to retrieve the picture. It was at that point that approximately five others all began to attack Carlos by kicking him in the head, legs, stomach and back.
The Capitol police bicycle patrol then appeared to break up the fight. Several officers including a female officer were engaged in breaking up the fight and were able to stop any further injuries from occurring. Hannah Jones who was walking with Carlos was also assaulted.
A bystander named Ramesh witnessed the whole encounter and also retrieved the picture of Alex for Carlos. He was quite distressed at how he watched the men follow Carlos as he pulled the memorial, purposefully yelling epiphets and eventually taking Alex's photograph. Soon, an ambulance showed up as well as many concerned activists. The paramedics provided first aid to Carlos but he did not seek further medical attention. Carlos sustained bloody cuts on his shins. He also reported bruises all over his torso and head where he was kicked.
Now lets see what one 'Gold Star Mom', of the so many speaking out against these policies and War and their loss, has to say about these 'Supper Patriots?'. { apparently if one Sacrifices, looses sons and daughters or actually serves this country but opposes the 'dictator' they are less than human, according to the 'Supper Real Patriots?'!! }.
However the measly segment of our population that are still so willingly ill-informed and ignorant of the facts that they are grasping for straws.
At the recent “Support for our Troops” rally that was held by the Republican backed and funded Move America Forward and Gathering of Eagles (who I like to call the "Smattering of Pigeons") groups last Saturday where they had 1/100th of the numbers of the true “Support the Troops” (and the people of Iraq)rally and march that was sponsored by the ANSWER Coalition, we pro-peace people were even called “Communists” several times. I have asked people what they mean when they call me that so-last century epithet and they say: “Yeah, you hate America.” Well, for all of those who have eyes but refuse to see, and ears but refuse to hear, this is what Communist means: SNIP
You'll have to visit the link to read the rest
On the day before the September '07 Washington 1st Amendment Right of Assembly we in the Countries Veterans ranks, as well as the Pro-Peace ranks, loss one of our own, David Cline, a tireless Advocate for Peace and Human Rights and a Leader who will be hard to replace because of his dedication to others and Country. He served what this Country is supposed to be till the end!
David, at After Downing Street, had this posted about another Vietnam Vet Peace Activist who no longer is with us.
About 50 feet from my husband the police had thrown a 57 year old Vietnam Vet down on the ground and proceeded to arrest him, unknowing they had crushed the man’s pacemaker and he had a heart attack on the balcony of the Capital building where they were holding the arrested protesters until busses came. The EMT’s were unable to revive him, resulting in the man’s death.
I have been unable to find out much more about this Veteran, so if anyone knows more please post.
Now on these so called 'Gathering of Eagles'. Many of them are not Veterans. Most come out of the ranks of 'Rolling Thunder', a once extremely proud organization started by Vietnam Veterans and with their main cause the plight of the brothers left behind, POWS. Anyone one can Ride or join the Memorial Day Memorials that Rolling Thunder leads at 'The Wall', for our fallen brothers and sisters, at 'Arlngton' and at the 'Pentagon', but what this organization has done, in recent years to grow it's supporting ranks is except anyone into it's membership on their words alone of being Veterans, no questions asked.
I say once because in recent years their leadership have become overly political, something that should Not exist in any Veterans Organization, for we served Country and Constitution, Not Political Ideologies, as the Oath we All took states!
Those who have joined this 'Gathering of Eagles' and are Veterans have every right to support policies, and even policies based on lies, but their Actions bring shame on themselves, the uniforms they once wore, their oath they once swore to, and the Whole Community of Us Veterans who have served this Country! They put out an Ugly Face of representing what a Veteran Should Not Be nor act like! They throw any Pride in Service to Country into the Gutter and Spit on their Fallen Brothers and Sisters as they claim They, and They Alone, Speak For The Fallen!!!!!
They Are A Disgrace, to Country, Themselves, Their Service, Their Brother and Sisters in Arms............!!
